A Jersey thing

I was hoping that this issue could have been set aside once I returned to school. But now I have realized that silence is just not an option. Every time someone asks me where I am from and I say New Jersey, they ask me about how I feel about Gov. Chris Christie’s actions. They ask me if I am shocked and ashamed of my governor and the so-called embarrassment he brought to the state.

To answer your question, no, I am not ashamed of Christie or his actions. In fact, I am highly supportive of him, as are the majority of New Jerseyans. Trust me, this support transcends simple partisan politics. Yes, one could say that what Christie did was wrong. In some ways, it was. But at the same time, it is nothing compared to what has gone on in our state before hand.

Truth be told, I hate to break it to you folks, but that is politics. It amazes me every time I hear the American people and the media shocked by this. It is as if they think the world of politics is the Garden of Eden where nothing is meant to go wrong (I do not know what kind of world those people are living in, but it is certainly not one that has any merit). New Jersey is still far better off under the leadership of Chris Christie.

As one of the few (perhaps only) N.J. residents at this school, I guess I should enlighten outsiders on what we are all about. I hail from Bergen County, in the northeastern corner of the state. In some ways we are different from other residents due to the fact that we are considered basically New Yorkers who do not want to pay even higher taxes.

Otherwise we share plenty of traits that fall in line with the rest of the state that much of the rest of the United States would frown upon. Yes we talk fast, are sometimes rude, are more socially liberal and we are not allowed to pump our own gas.

At the same time, we are also much better at understanding how to get things done. Unlike many other Americans, we acknowledge our flaws and do not pretend to be something we are not. We also do not talk about people’s personal lives and then fly off the handle about it. Our biggest concerns are great violent attacks such as 9/11 that may strike our area. Meanwhile, Middle America’s biggest concern is what people are doing in their private lives.

Believe it or not, I am not trying to say that New Jersey is better than any other state. Rather, I am trying to point out that Chris Christie is still one of the best things our state has and this country needs. The fact is that he embodies many great qualities that we need right now. He knows how to get things done, even it is through methods that may not always be the best. He knows what is important and what is not, something the rest of our country needs to do.

Of course, while many pundits are already indicating that Christie’s chances of becoming president are slim, it is important to remember that much of this is just hype that will soon fade away. The next election is still almost three years away, and Christie has plenty of time to repair this little speed bump. In that case, I can guarantee that if he runs I will be still proudly marking my ballot next to his name come 2016.